The Basketball God continues to favor the San Antonio Spurs as they beat the second pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. While the lottery results were a blessing for the Spurs, their decision to draft picks was not as simple as other teams.
For most teams, no decision is to be two. They selected Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper, who was alone after Cooper Flagg. He is a dominant heist with an upside room at the all-NBA level in other areas of the game.
Harper took on a huge offensive burden for the talent-lacked Rutgers squad, using 28.8% (58.6%) while scoring effectively. He ranks third in usage this season, and he ranks him at 96% of NBA players this year.
Most teams that pick the draft have no problem absorbing this usage. However, the Spurs had Victor Wembanyama, De'aaron Fox and promising rookie Stephon Castle absorbed the property. If the Spurs drafted Harper, they must have to transfer his role drastically at least early in their careers.
In college, he did not benefit from many simple production buckets. In Rutgers' basket, Harper has an astonishing 82.4% of his making in the basket (he has no support in those incredible 70% shooting percentage). 88% of his non-RIM 2 points were not supported either. Harper's helplessness mostly went beyond the arc (unsupported rate of three-pointers), which was the basis for his early NBA role.
Harper has tools to play ball
Harper tried to triple 57 catches and shots at Rutgers, converting their 36.8% to 36.8%. If we expand the sample to his high school and AAU career (dating back to his 2022 16U EYBL season, according to Synergy), Harper hit 38.6% on the Catch-and-Shoot Threes (68/176). It is an inspiring record that helps compensate for the average number of universities.
Without lightning speed or advanced release, Harper relies on his range to find the opening. He was comfortable firing from outside the college line, which was very good for his NBA translation. In San Antonio, Harper may see a lot of open-point threes in the court gravity of Wembanyama, Fox and Castle.
Harper hasn't played with many NBA caliber players throughout his high school, AAU and college. Ace Bailey is Harper's only Surefire Pro for a lot of time. As talented as Bailey, his decision-making questions didn't help stand out from Harper.
Despite the low use, Dylan Harper showed a sense of spacing/time, live shooting and decisive driving, the necessity of playing basketball at the NBA level
Harper pic.twitter.com/6njtkpfepe
– Ben Pfeifer (@BJPF_) May 14, 2025
The only noteworthy sample of Harper playing was playing with the 2023 U19 U19 team in the FIBA game (although at the time of 17). In those seven games, he averaged just 9.3 points in 18.8 minutes per game, next to college basketball stars and future professional players (Kylan Boswell, Asa Newell, Tre Johnson, Cody Williams, Tobe Awaka).
Without a lot of balls, Harper excels in a low-conscientious role. When defensively in, he cut into the basket, competed on defense, and decisively attacked the basket. It's a small sample that can be deduced, but Harper's Fiba footsteps provide some evidence of his ability to survive next to other stars.
How will he adapt to the NBA?
If the Spurs choose to draft Harper, he must use those complementary skills. His use will change drastically from his time at Rutgers, transactions and insertions and quarantine opportunities. In Rutgers, pickups and isolation make up 45% of Harper's play types.
Harper won't get the same play type usage in San Antonio. Early in his career, we may see a lot of spots and close attacks, both of which thrived in Harper. Inserting Harper into San Antonio’s ecosystem will require some tinkering, but the rewards are worth mentioning.
There are many creative ways to weaponize Harper from the ball. It's easy to imagine that he's Wembanyama, a reflection of a changeover driver or a baseline cutter thriving. Harper has no doubt in the bench unit in San Antonio that helps them stay creative regardless of the lineup.
The Spurs can hand over the second pick to a team like Milwaukee to add another superstar next to Victor Wembanyama. Trading Fox or one of the castles might be the maximization of Harper. This is a risk worth taking, as Harper's ceiling is higher than the aforementioned players.
Like Fox and Castle, Harper's figure, special driving talent, shooting and delivery skills are now a true superstar. The Spurs shouldn't have the chance to add Harper to anything outside the top five players in the league. Whether it’s trading Harper or drafting other players completely, there will be real temptation to go a clearer path.
San Antonio should trust Dylan Harper's ability to adapt to his NBA situation. If they bear some early discomfort, they will get a generous reward in the long run.
